VZCZCXRO4085
PP RUEHGR
DE RUEHSP #0268/01 0602009
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 012009Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6492
INFO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0064
RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT OF SPAIN 000268 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EPET EFIN TD
SUBJECT: TRINIDAD PETROLEUM CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS 
 
REF: POS 203 
 
¶1. The 2006 Trinidad & Tobago Petroleum Conference 
(TTPC), held on February 6-7 in Port of Spain, chose 
the theme "Harnessing the Gas Economy" to recognize the 
change in status of Trinidad and Tobago as an oil 
producing economy to a gas producing one.  The 
conference, organized by the South Trinidad Chamber of 
Industry & Commerce, featured presentations by a number 
of industry experts and company executives, as well as 
a range of senior GOTT officials, among them the 
Central Bank governor and the junior minister of 
finance.  An anticipated presentation by Prime Minister 
Manning did not occur, though his remarks likely would 
have been similar to those he delivered the previous 
working day at the launch of the Atlantic LNG 
production Train 4 (reftel).  An invited official from 
DOE gave a market presentation.  Media focus on the 
conference was greater on macroeconomic presentations 
rather than those of energy companies.  Following are 
selected highlights of the conference, based on media 
accounts and Embassy attendance. 
 
------------------------------------- 
Central Bank & Finance Ministry views 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  Ewart Williams, governor of the Central Bank of 
T&T, told conference attendees that increased growth 
was likely in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).  He 
expected that real GDP growth in 2006 would exceed 10 
percent.  As an illustration of increased business 
activity, Williams cited a rise in U.S. dollar sales by 
the bank recently to over US$100 million.  Williams 
termed this development shocking, as such sales usually 
average $25-30 million in the month of January. 
Unidentified capital outflows were a concern to 
Williams and a barrier to economic growth in T&T. 
Williams said increased focus on agriculture, 
infrastructure, and long-term financing was important 
for ensuring the security of Trinidad's economy.  An 
important issue was instituting the petroleum-based 
Revenue Stabilization Fund (a bill for which is 
presently undergoing drafting), expanding the 
industrial base, and concentrating on education and 
training. 
 
¶3. Christine Sahadeo, a minister in the Finance 
Ministry, spoke on state enterprises and GOTT 
divestment policy.  She said GOTT planned to encourage 
private companies to list themselves on the TT Stock 
Exchange.  She encouraged the private sector to be more 
active in the domestic capital market.  Sahadeo called 
on companies to extend to employees the benefit of 
optional Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) shares. 
Sahadeo denied that divestment implied a failure of 
government, arguing instead that it was a "necessary 
and complementary part of the process."  From 87 state 
enterprises in 1992, there were 79 today, she said. 
Sugar Manufacturing Company Ltd. (SMCL), which replaced 
Caroni (1975) Ltd. two years ago, was now marked for 
divestment.  Sahadeo said that invitations would go out 
shortly for bids on SMCL.  At the same time, she 
rejected the idea of privatizing First Citizens Bank 
(FCB), which had been a success story since it was 
formed in 1993, and now was Trinidad's third largest 
bank with an asset base of TT1.5 billion ($250 
million).  A remaining question, however, was whether 
to privatize FCB or give it a development bank role. 
 
¶4. Sahadeo presented statistics on the Revenue 
Stabilization Fund.  In January the fund balance was 
TT5.48 billion (US$874 million).  The T&T government 
has allotted TT1.86 billion ($297 million) to add to 
the fund this year.  Assuming no other changes during 
the year (such as withdrawals for assisting CARICOM 
nations, as has happened in the past), the infusion 
would yield a balance of TT7.35 billion ($1.17 billion) 
by end of the T&T fiscal year in October. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
Regional energy views - Tobago, Venezuela 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. Former finance minister Wendell Mottley was the most 
provocative speaker at the conference.  He spoke on the 
politics of petroleum and its effects on the Caribbean. 
Mottley said that what makes Venezuela strong as an oil- 
producing country is wielding oil power that can force 
large oil companies to renegotiate exploration 
 
PORT OF SP 00000268  002 OF 002 
 
 
contracts, which leads to an increase in royalties and 
taxes.  The trend in the hemisphere was one of 
increasing state control over natural resources, as 
evidenced by Venezuela and Mexico, and increasingly in 
Brazil and Bolivia.  Underlying this was the failure of 
governments to maximize their energy revenues.  Mottley 
cited as an example the failure of U.S. authorities to 
collect much more money last year then it did five 
years ago from energy companies that had extracted more 
than $60 billion in oil and gas from publicly owned 
lands and coastal waters.  He pointed to ExxonMobil, 
which increased revenues 40 percent last year, but saw 
its tax bill rise by only 14 percent.  In this context, 
Mottley did not appear to be suggesting that T&T adopt 
the Venezuelan model.  Rather, he said T&T "should have 
a clear construct of regional energy integration" and 
should be more active in supporting its Caribbean 
neighbors, which he characterized as being in desperate 
economic shape. 
 
¶6.  Orville London, Chief Secretary of the Tobago House 
of Assembly, spoke on the potential to the island from 
natural gas.  He said the government was close to 
approving an eco-industrial estate in the south of 
Tobago that would include a gas-fired power plant (the 
island now receives electricity via submarine cable 
from Trinidad).  Tapping two gas fields located 
offshore of Tobago could provide a boost to the 
island's economy, which is now largely dependent on 
tourism.  London said 50 percent of employment and 90 
percent of Tobago's foreign exchange depended on 
tourism.  London's outlook was a diversified, gas-based 
economy on Tobago, the "capital of paradise." 
 
AUSTIN